Toaster, broiler, &amp;c.



PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904.

M. J. WIDENHOFER.

TOASTER, BROILER, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13.1904.

NO MODEL.

Patented November 29, 1904.

PATENT: OFFICE.

MICHAEL J. VVIDENHOF ER, OF PERKASIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOASTER, BROILER, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,283, dated November 29, 1904.

Application filed June 13, 1904. Serial No- 212.236. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. WIDEN- I-IOFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Perkasie, in the county of Bucks, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Toasters, Broilers, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a toaster, broiler, &c., formed preferably of wire and composed of heads that may be closed and opened, means for imparting pressure to said heads, means for firmly supporting the axis of the movable head, a brace for the shank of the stationary head, and means for firmly securing the shanks of the device in a handle therefor.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a toaster or broiler embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a partial bottom plan view and partial longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 represents a transverse section on line :0 a, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section on line y Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A and B designate heads between which pieces of bread, meat, &c., to be toasted, broiled, &c., are held, each of said parts being formed of wire, suitably coiled or otherwise bent.

Extending from the head A is the shank C, which is bent into the eye D, the latter receiving the pivot E, which is supported by said eye. Said shank then continues as one limb C of a loop F, which enters one limb F of said loop, then continuing forward from said handle and being bent into the eye H, the latter receiving said pivot E, which is also supported by said eye. An arm J continues forward from said eye H and forms a brace for the side of the shank 0 forward of the pivot E.

Extending from the head B is the shank K, which carries the same and is bent into an eye L, which is mounted on thepivot E, so as to turn thereon in the opening and closing motions of the head B, said shank being continued rearward from said eye in the form of a loop M, on one limb of which is an arm T, which is deflected toward the limbs C F, ad-

jacent to the handle Gr, and has on its terminal the laterally-extending foot P, which rests upon said limbs and is adapted to ride thereon in the opening and closing motions of the head B.

It will be seen that theloop M forms a thumb or finger piece and the arm N, which extends comparatively downward therefrom, forms, with the foot P, a spring Whose pres sure is exerted outwardly on said loop VI, whereby the head B is forced toward the head A, and so the bread, meat, or other article of food placed between said heads will be firmly held and the device may be turned without opening. \Vhen, however, it is desired to open the heads to apply or remove the article, as the handle G is grasped and the thumb placed upon the piece M and pressed against the latter the head B will be removed from the head A, the heads thus being separated for the purpose requiring the same, it being noticed that as said piece has a radial motion toward the handle the footP slides or rides forwardly on the limbs C F, while the limb N exerts its resiliency outwardly on the fingerpiece, so that when said piece is let go the head B closes and is firmly pressed against the article resting on the head C, the effect of which is evident. It will also be seen that the pivotE is supported at each end by the eyes D H, respectively, whereby it forms astrong and wellsustained axis for the shank of the movable head B, and that the arm J, which is a forward continuation of the eye H, is deflected against the shank O, the latter thus being braced, said eye L being braced laterally by said eyes D H. It will also be seen that the device, excepting the pivot and handle, is formed of two pieces of wire, whereby it is produced in a simple and inexpensive manner.

In order to firmly retain the shank C through the medium of the loop F in the handle G, there is inserted between the limbs of said loop the plug Q, which is forcibly driven into position, thus spreading apart said limbs and wedging or forcing the same against the wall of the opening in the handle which they occupy, so as to tightly hug the same, and thus firmly retaining the loop in the handle,

said loop consisting of the tang of the device, whereby as the latter is composed of a plurality of limbs they add greatly to the strength of the tang.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction shown Without departingfrom the general spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited in each case to the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character stated, opening and closing heads, a pivotal shank for the movable head, a thumb-piece continuous of said shank for operating said shank, aspringarm continuous of said thumb-piece, and a member on the shank of the stationary head on which said arm has a bearing.

2. In a device of the character stated, a pair of heads adapted to be opened and closed, shanks carrying said heads, a pivot for the movable head, a thumb-piece continuous of the shank of the movable head, and a springarm, the latter being continuous of said thumb-piece and having a foot adapted to ride upon an adjacent member of the shank of the stationary head. 1

3. In a device of the character stated, a stationary and a movable head, shanks carrying the same, a pivot for the shank of the movable head, and a spring for closing the latter, and a thumb-piece for opening said movable head, said spring being composed of an arm continuous of said thumb-piece and said shank piece, said arm being adapted to bear against v and ride upon the adjacent portion of the shank of the stationary head.

5. In a device of the character stated, a pair of heads, one stationary and one movable, shanks carrying said heads, atang continuous of the shank of the stationary head, a plurality of eyes on said shank forming the bearings for the axis of the shank of the movable head, and a piece forwardly continuous of one of said eyes and engaging the adjacent portion of the shank of the stationary head between said axis and shank.

6. In a device of the character stated, a head, a shank therefor, a tang on said shank, and a handle receiving said tang which latter consists of a portion of said shank doubled on itself forming a loop and a tightening device composed of a plug occupying said handle forcibly between the limbs of'said loop.

MICHAEL J. WIDENHOFER.

\Vitnesses:

SAMUEL F. STROM, IRVIN Y. BARINGER.' 

